(meteorobs) Definition of a meteor (was Re: Fifth grade sciencebook)

[John Kuehn]

I think that most will agree that
1. Any  natural extraterrestrial object that has touched the earth is 
considered a METEORITE
2. Any natural object in free space that is smaller than an asteroid is 
considered a METEOROID

The contention seems to be during the fall to earth.
When during this atmospheric, ablative period, and post luminescent 
/dark period  is it proper to use the generic terminology and call it a 
METEOR?

My personal opinion and usage is ALL OF IT.

" HEY Look at that meteor!"
Also as in the term 'METEOR  Shower'.

John Kuehn

62 year old retiree with average eyesight and no
connection with any of the above hardware manufacturers

GeoZay at aol.com wrote:

> 
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>>>Why would it be called a meteoroid then, when all the  characteristics of 
>>>      
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>it
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>>being a meteoroid no longer exists?
>> GeoZay<<
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>The International Meteor Organization (IMO) definition of a Meteoroid is  
>below: 
>Meteoroid
>A solid object moving  in interplanetary space, of a size considerably 
>smaller than a asteroid and  considerably larger than an atom or molecule. 
> 
>Ed>> What characteristics George?  If it is still a  surviving object, it is
>still in orbit around the Sun, be it a distorted  one effected by gravity and
>the retardation of the Earth's  atmosphere. << 
> 
>The definition I found on IMO's website doesn't seem complete. But I  suppose 
>this would be to include interstellar objects as well?  Anyways, after the 
>light phase and while in the dark stage, the then  falling object is no longer 
>in interplanetary space...it's in the earth's  atmosphere dominated by the 
>earth's gravity.  At this point, I'm  hard pressed to see how the sun is gonna 
>jerk the falling object back into  interplanetary space thru any gravitational 
>influence or velocity of the  object? Other definitions I've seen for a 
>meteoroid included the small object  to be in solar orbit. Again, objects in the dark 
>stage are no more in  independent solar orbit than a sea gull. They both are 
>at the mercy of  the earth...not the sun. 
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>>>Even before it has entered the
>>>      
>>>
>atmosphere the orbit of  the meteoroid has been altered by the gravitational
>effects of the Earth  and in some cases other objects it happens to
>encounter.<<
> 
>Altered yes, but still in an independent solar orbit  at this stage.  
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>>>Since this topic originated with a  grade five sciencebook, I think we
>>>      
>>>
>are getting far too technical for such a  grade level.  Let them be children
>and still wish on a falling  star!  ;-)<<
> 
>For all those fifth grade thinking people who find this is too technical  for 
>them, I'd suggest hitting the delete button, when they see the subject  
>matter pertains to meteoroids and meteorites.   :O)
>GeoZay
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